DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR

Granite Shoals resident Jennifer Hart looks over a toy top she salvaged from the remains of her home that a fire destroyed Jan. 28. The top was her mother’s that hadn’t worked for years, yet it began working after the fire. Hart, along with her brother and friends, were clearing the property and saving what they could Jan. 30. An account has been set up at Security State Bank and Trust called the Jennifer Hart Benefit Fund to help Hart with recovery efforts. Staff photos by Daniel Clifton

GRANITE SHOALS — As Jennifer Hart sifted through the remains of her Granite Shoals home Jan. 30, a few days after a fire ravaged it, she picked up a charred toy. It was a top.

“Hey, look. I found Mom’s top,” she said, holding it up for several friends and her brother to see. Then, she pressed down on the spindle coming out of the top of the toy. It spun. “And it works. It hasn’t worked for years. It’s amazing. It took a fire to get it to work again.”

She shook her head a bit in disbelief then carefully set the top on the remains of her home’s fireplace and went back to the reality of cleaning and sorting through what little was left of her house and belongings. Hart recovered a part of a Bible, an old tool her husband had built and some other things.

READ: Fire destroys Granite Shoals residence; woman escapes

But somewhere among all the dirt, mud and burned materials, Hart hoped she would find the ashes of her late husband, Mike McMahan. He died in July 2013. The two of them had worked side by side to transform an old garage and a shop on Jefferson Street in Granite Shoals into their home.

Jennifer Hart puts some items she found in the remains of her home on her fireplace. She and her husband, Mike McMahan, built the stone face of the fireplace many years ago. McMahan passed away last July. Hart was still trying to find his ashes, which were in the house when the fire destroyed the residence Jan. 28.

“I’m glad he wasn’t here to see this,” Hart said as she put something else down on the fireplace. She pointed at the stone base of the fireplace. “That’s the first thing we built together.”

On Jan. 28, a fire destroyed Hart’s home. She believes the fire started near her fireplace, but the cause remains under investigation. Hart escaped the blaze, but she lost her dog in the fire along with almost all of her possessions.

“She lost everything,” said her brother, Leonard Szalkowski. “This is her home.”

Szalkowski and several of Hart’s friends were out with her during the week, cleaning up the site and salvaging what they could. Hart said she plans to rebuild at the same location; she’s not sure how, but that’s her plan.

“This is my home,” Hart said.

A portion of a Bible made it through a fire that destroyed Granite Shoals resident Jennifer Hart’s home Jan. 28. Hart lost most of her belongings during the fire. Her dog died in the blaze as well.

With no insurance, Hart faces a tough challenge. But friends and her employer, Pat Heinecke, are trying to help her.

“She’s been with me for years,” said Heinecke, owner of the Farmhouse Restaurant, 8037 RR 1431 in Granite Shoals. “I’m going to help her out the best I can.”

Heinecke set up an account at Security Bank and Trust to which people can donate to help Hart. She said people just need to go into one of the Security Bank and Trust locations and ask to donate to the Jennifer Hart Benefit Fund.

She also plans to set up donation jars at the restaurant and her other business, El Rio Food and Fuel, 14757 RR 1431 in Kingsland. Other locations that might set up donation jars include the Jet Stop, 7000 RR 1431 in Granite Shoals.

“That fire left her with nothing,” Heinecke said. “Can you imagine? I think the community will help out once they hear about it and know there’s a way they can.”

Back at her home site, Hart appreciates the help. She picks up a few more remnants near where her husband’s ashes were sitting before the fire then looks around at the rest of the damage. Her brother and several friends are clearing the metal roofing materials, loading them up on a trailer.

“Well, I guess I better do this later,” Hart said. “I need to get back to helping clean this up.”

And with that, Hart heads back to a pile of burned metal and materials to load up in the back of her small Ford pickup. Despite the fire, Hart beats on.

daniel@thepicayune.com

TO HELP

Those wishing to offer financial help to Jennifer Hart may donate to the Jennifer Hart Benefit Fund at any Security Bank and Trust location in the Highland Lakes; at her place of work, the Farmhouse Restaurant, 8037 RR 1431 in Granite Shoals; or El Rio Food and Fuel, 14757 RR 1431 in Kingsland. Other area locations also will be setting up donation jars.

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FROM STAFF REPORTS

BURNET — Voters across Burnet County chose new faces and picked a few familiar ones for local councils and school boards.

One of the most recognizable faces on the Granite Shoals city council is on the way back. Last year, Shirley King had to step down from the council due to term limits. But now, 12 months later, she’s back after beating Place 2 incumbent Slayton Marks, 180-130.

In the Place 6 race, Mark Morren held off Peggy Metzger, 168-145, while incumbent Tom Dillard ran unopposed for Place 4.

Highland Haven voters might not be quite done.

They selected Irene Dauphin for mayor over Lynn H. Sheffield. Charles Webb was unopposed for the unexpired alderman spot.

But with three people running for the two full-term alderman seats, Highland Haven found itself with a tie. Betty Ward won one spot outright with 120 votes, but Bill Passmore and Olan Kelley tied at 103 each.

According to Burnet County Elections Administrator Barbara Agnew, several scenarios could follow. First, there is an automatic recount. If the tie remains, she said, the candidates can draw for lots for the position (such as flip a coin) or one candidate could agree to withdraw. If the candidates don’t like those choices, it goes to another election sometime, probably, in late June.

Across the rest of the county, the election results are as follows.

Burnet CISD
Place 3 – Craig Barefoot beat Martin Riley, 503-385
Place 7 – Jim Luther Jr. beat Rick Prewitt, 552-343

ESD No. 4 Local Sales Tax Adoption
Failed with 61 against and 53 for

Bertram City Council (unexpired term)
Mike Konarik beat James B. Worrell, 30-9

Burnet City Council (top 3 win*)
Joyce Laudenschlager, 229*; Philip Thurman, 220*; Paul Shell, 177*; and Zach Worrell, 105.

Meadowlakes City Council (top 1 wins*)
Mayor – Mary Ann Raesener, 314 (unopposed)
Place 1 Council Member – Mike Barry, 303 (unopposed)
Place 3 Council Member – Jerry Drummond, 210*; Moe Garza, 118

Cottonwood Shores City Council (top 1 wins*)
Place 1 Council Member – Anthony J. Satsky, 55 (unopposed)
Place 3 Council Member – Cheryl Trinidad, 63*; Janelle H. Long, 23
Place 5 Council Member – Roger L. Wayson, 67 (unopposed)

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FROM STAFF REPORTS

MARTHA SOTO

MARBLE FALLS — A Granite Shoals woman allegedly admitted to Marble Falls police that she took several thousand dollars from the dentist office at which she had once worked.

Police have charged Martha Ann Soto, 32, with theft of property ($1,500 to $20,000) after employees at a Marble Falls dentist clinic noticed cash missing.

The investigation began in October 2013 when a patient reported paying a bill by cash, but when one of the office staff members reviewed records, the employee noticed the payment was supposedly made by credit card, according to an arrest affidavit sworn out by Marble Falls Police Sgt. Tom Dillard.

“They had some concerns, with some bookkeeping irregularities, all of which kind of tracked back to one former employee,” the investigator said.

The alleged “irregularities” occurred between January 2013 and July 2013.

After looking into the matter further, the employee found neither a credit card or cash payment corresponding with the patient’s billing. After comparing other patient files to credit card payments, the employee identified at least 11 similar situations, the affidavit stated.

“The amounts varied from under $200 to around $3,000,” the officer said.

When Dillard began investigating the alleged theft, he contacted several of the patients. He learned three patients had handed cash to the suspect for dental services.

“Each of those accounts reflected a credit payment, but two of them (clinic patients) stated that they did not have the type of credit card listed as payment,” Dillard stated in the affidavit.

Dillard interviewed the suspect in late June. The woman left the clinic in August or September 2013, the officer said.

“In the course of the voluntary interview, she admitted to taking cash from the business on seven to 10 occasions for a total amount in the $9,000-$12,000 range,” Dillard wrote in the affidavit.

Marble Falls Municipal Judge Cheryl Pounds signed an arrest warrant for the suspect. Soto was arrested and booked into the Burnet County Jail on July 13. She bonded out later the same day.

If convicted, Soto faces up to two years in the state jail.

editor@thepicayune.com

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CONNIE SWINNEY • PICAYUNE STAFF

Code enforcement officers Preston Williams (left) and Mike Bishop met Aug. 12 at a cleared lot in the 1500 block of Kingswood Street in Granite Shoals to discuss the potential removal of unsafe buildings in neighborhoods as part of the Having Pride in Your Neighborhood program. Staff photo by Connie Swinney

GRANITE SHOALS — Granite Shoals leaders have launched a program to work with property owners to rid the community of dilapidated buildings considered unsafe while sidestepping more costly condemnation proceedings, officials say.

The building removal efforts, a component of the Having Pride in Your Neighborhood Program, goes a step further than just clearing properties of health and safety hazards by also saving taxpayers money spent in court when condemning private properties, said Granite Shoals City Manager Ken Nickel.

“Before, we could have gone to the courts and had (property owners) remove (the structures), but that would have cost us $5,000 to 10,000 for one building,” he said. “Now, we can do six of them within $10,000.”

So far, crews contracting with the city have removed seven structures at three locations, primarily the King streets section, including manufactured homes, sheds and a burned-out trailer.

“They were structures that were about to fall down, windows broken, doors ripped off, roofs collapsed. There is a health issue because with the rain and mold, disease would get in there,” Nickel said. “Transients would sometimes stay in those locations. … Kids have a tendency of going into those buildings. One could have fallen through the floor, and we would have a more dangerous situation.”

To determine eligibility in the city-funded program, code enforcement officers identify vacated properties, track down owners and ask for voluntary participation.

“It’s looking for residents who want to work with us, so we can do it safely and legally. A lot of (the structures) were owned by their parents, and they have not been here for a long period of time or they have just decayed and they could not afford to replace them,” Nickel said. “We bring in our removal (company), and we go from there. It’s a win-win for both the homeowners and the city.”

Business owners and residents have responded well to the program.

“We’ve got better management,” said Ruben Ortego, owner of Super Express Food Mart, 4110 Valley View Lane. “It makes (the community) more respectable. It’s better because one guy sees it and wants to (clean up), too.”

Other components of Having Pride in Your Neighborhood include encouraging residents to post clearly marked addresses on residences to assist with emergency identification and an aggressive effort to remove junk cars.

Code enforcement officers say they have cleared more than two dozen cars this fiscal year.

“It will help clean up the city,” Nickel said of the program. I’m looking forward to seeing our neighborhoods prosper.”

To help the city of Granite Shoals identify unoccupied unsafe buildings, call city hall at (830) 598-5810.

connie@thepicayune.com

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FROM STAFF REPORTS

AMANDA HEISLER

GRANITE SHOALS — Authorities charged a woman with credit card abuse against an elderly person after a couple identified the suspect on surveillance video making several purchases with their card, according to a report from Granite Shoals police.

Amanda Hiesler, 39, faces 33 counts of the charge, which is enhanced from state jail to third-degree felony due to the ages of the alleged victims.

The charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison with a conviction on each count.

“We were contacted by an elderly couple who discovered a number of fraudulent charges on their credit card, said Granite Shoals Police Capt. Gary Boshears.

“We got some surveillance video from some of the stores where the purchases were made,” he said. “The victim was able to identify her off watching a couple of those transactions, and then she admitted to conducting the rest of the transactions in Granite Shoals.”

The woman had been employed by the couple, who are in their 70s, Boshears said.

About $500 worth of items including alcohol, cigarettes and food were purchased at Granite Shoals stores using the credit card between the fourth week in July and the second week in August, the report stated.

The investigator believes additional transactions occurred in Kingsland and Marble Falls.

Hiesler was booked into the Burnet County Jail on Aug. 18 and released on Aug. 22 on bond.

editor@thepicayune.com

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FROM STAFF REPORTS

Angelita Rodriguez Pacheco

BURNET — A Burnet County Jury sentenced a Granite Shoals woman, who admitted selling methamphetamines, to 18 years in prison on charges she stole from guests at a Marble Falls hotel where she worked, according to a statement by the 33rd/424th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

Angelita Rodriguez Pacheco, 39, received two 18-year prison sentences on two counts of burglary of a habitation Sept. 16 in a Burnet courtroom. District Judge Dan Mills, who presided over the trial, ordered Pacheco to serve the sentences concurrently.

“During the trial, the jury heard evidence that Pacheco, formerly an employee of the Hill Country Inn (located at 1101 U.S. 281) in Marble Falls, went into several patrons’ rooms there and stole personal electronic devices on July 31, 2013,” according to the prosecutors. “An iPad taken from one victim’s room was later found in Pacheco’s possession.”

During sentencing, the jury heard from Pacheco, who admitted to selling methamphetamines, and prosecutors presented more evidence of a string of burglaries and theft-related offenses over the past several years.

“This woman was engaged in a scheme to burglarize hotel rooms, and she abused her position to put her plan into action,” prosecutor Richard Crowther said. “By putting her in prison, the jury has helped ensure that Burnet County never becomes the sort of place where our visitors have to worry about becoming victims of crime.”

editor@thepicayune.com

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JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF

Dave Holder (second from left), the Roddick Youth Tennis Foundation director of fundraising and special events, presents Granite Shoals Mayor Dennis Maier (right) a check for $64,000 to help fund two full-size tennis courts at the Roddick Tennis Center in Granite Shoals. Also attending were volunteers Kirk Noacker (left) and Frank Reilly. Courtesy photo

GRANITE SHOALS — Construction on two full-size tennis courts can begin next week thanks to a $64,000 matching grant from the Roddick Youth Tennis Foundation to the city of Granite Shoals.

Officials with the foundation presented the check to the city council during its meeting Sept. 23.

The courts are part of the Roddick Tennis Center in the city.

Former Granite Shoals Mayor Frank Reilly, who is volunteering with the project, said the city’s portion is from a matching grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Two QuickStart Tennis courts, which are smaller than full-size ones are already being used at the Quarry Parks, which is the site of the tennis center.

Total projected cost of the new courts is $138,200. H.D. Irvin of H.D. Irvin Steel Erectors “donated his expertise and metal for the covered part of the building,” Reilly said.

That included roof repairs, skylights, strengthening the structure and panel work, the former mayor said. Irvine estimated his contribution’s value at $12,800.

“I know he probably exceeded that,” Reilly said.

Officials estimate the courts will take no more than 90 days to complete, he said.

“The kids are ready to play on the full-size courts,” he said. “The older ones have outgrown the QuickStart courts.”

In addition to the Roddick Tennis Center, the community also will have the Leonel Manzano Hike Trails, a wildflower garden and an interpretive area that gives the history of the city and the Quarry Park, Reilly said.

“The city is looking to build for the future,” he said. “And one of the things the city has always needed was a recreational facility for everybody. We have a number of pocket parks along the lake. We’ve needed room for ball fields or walking, and recreational facilities will help property values and make it a more desirable place to live.”

jfierro@thepicayune.com

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DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR

MATTHEW LEWALLEN

MARBLE FALLS — Police charged a 26-year-old Burnet man with intoxication manslaughter for the death of a Granite Shoals woman after tests determined the suspect’s blood-alcohol content was three times over the legal limit.

Matthew Lewallen was booked into the Burnet County Jail on Oct. 15 for intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle. The charge stems from a deadly accident Sept. 21 in the 1400 block of U.S. 281 about 2:20 a.m. in Marble Falls.

Marble Falls Police Sgt. Barry Greer said Lewallen was driving a 2003 Chevy Silverado pickup heading north on the highway when it crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with a Ford Explorer driven by Sandra Hart, 47, of Granite Shoals.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Hart died at the scene.

Emergency crews transported Lewallen to Seton Highland Lakes Hospital in Burnet for evaluation after the accident, but, at the time, officers said they would have to wait until the blood-alcohol test results came back before they made any charges. But soon after the accident, Greer said officers believed alcohol was involved.

In the arrest warrant affidavit filed by Marble Falls Police officer Dorian Turner, Lewallen’s hospital records showed he had a blood-alcohol limit of three times the legal limit, which is .08 blood-alcohol content.

Turner, who was a responding officer to the accident, stated in the affidavit that after fire crews freed Lewallen from the vehicle, the man was conscious “but not aware of how the crashed happened or of his surroundings.”

“During my contact with him, I smelled a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath, his speech was slurred, the whites of his eyes were really red (bloodshot), and he said he had consumed two beers,” the documented continued.

Dorian stated in the affidavit that his belief was the suspect’s intoxication level led to the collision that caused Hart’s death.

Hart was by herself, while Lewallen had a passenger in his pickup. The passenger, Matthew King, 23, of Kyle was arrested at the time of the accident and charged with public intoxication.

Lewallen was released later the same day after posting a $7,500 cash bond.

daniel@thepicayune.com

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FROM STAFF REPORTS

JUAN CARLOS MORALES

GRANITE SHOALS — An employee of the city’s streets and parks department faces a child sexual assault charge, after parents told investigators they found inappropriate messages on their teen daughter’s cell phone, according to the Granite Shoals Police Department.

Juan Carlos Morales, 35, of Marble Falls was arrested by Granite Shoals police Oct. 27 while he was at his job in the Granite Shoals Streets and Parks Department, according to the report.

“We received a report from the parents of a 16-year-old female who had discovered some evidence that she was in a relationship with Mr. Morales,” Capt. Gary Boshears said. “They discovered some conversations with Mr. Morales they felt were not appropriate. Upon further investigation, we determined it was a sexual relationship.”

Investigators say they believe the relationship happened during the first week in September at a Granite Shoals location and that the suspect was known to the family.

“The sexual relationship we believe happened one time,” Boshears said. “Regardless, with a 16-year-old, if they’re forced or not forced, 16 is not an age where you can give consent to have a sexual relationship.”

Morales remains in the Burnet County Jail with a $25,000 bond on a second-degree felony charge of sexual assault of a child, punishable by two to 20 years in prison if convicted.

A city official did not immediately return phone calls regarding the employment status of Morales with the city of Granite Shoals.

editor@thepicayune.com

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CONNIE SWINNEY • PICAYUNE STAFF

Granite Shoals Police Chief J.P. Wilson outfitted nine officers with body cameras in October to help document incidents and provide digital video evidence for court cases. Staff photo by Connie Swinney

GRANITE SHOALS — A rural agency has become the second in Burnet County to equip its officers with body cameras to add another tool to their crime-fighting arsenal, officials say.

Nine officers from the Granite Shoals Police Department started wearing the digital-remote cameras in mid-October.

The agency, which serves the community of about 5,000 people, is located five miles west of Marble Falls on Lake LBJ.

“You look at a lot of situations across the country where there’s questions about whether the officers were justified in using force,” Capt. Gary Boshears said. “In almost every situation where it’s controversial or there’s a question about (an investigation), there’s no video or it’s off video, and you have a long drawn-out process to determine justification. But if you have two minutes of video, it’s going to answer the question right there.”

Until now, Granite Shoals officers relied on officer audio equipment or vehicle-mounted digital cameras to help gather data for an investigation.

“In the past, if there was a question about what happened, we had to rely on statements,” Boshears said. “It’s going to help with accountability purposes. There’s going to be nothing that happens off camera.”

Officials said the cameras will chronicle protocols, decisions and actions as well as potential evidence.

“It covers the city. It protects the officer. It guarantees we’ll have far better prosecution,” Chief J.P. Wilson said. “This lets you see what we’re walking into when we walk into a house. It allows us for better prosecution for the courts to be able to see this, to have their eyes on exactly what we’re seeing.”

The Bertram Police Department, located 12 miles east of Burnet, was the first agency to utilize the cameras about a year ago.

“Technology has improved a lot, especially in the last few years. The cost finally started to come down. These cost less than $1,000 a unit versus $3,000 to $4,000 per unit,” Wilson said. “It can be repaired and serviced here in our office … I hope the rest of the departments get on board and start doing it.”

Such devices could help eliminate doubt in the courtroom, officials said.

“All of our officers love it because it eliminates the questions,” Boshears said. “For instance, if you walk up to to a car and you see something illegal, some contraband in the driver’s lap, it eliminates the question of, ‘Are you sure you actually saw that?’ It’s on the on-officer camera, so yes, we saw it.”

connie@thepicayune.com

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FROM STAFF REPORTS

JENNIE RAE HAMILTON

HORSESHOE BAY — Authorities have recovered about $15,000 worth of reported stolen merchandise and arrested a Granite Shoals woman after an investigation into a rash of burglaries, according to the Horseshoe Bay Police Department.

Jennie Rae Hamilton, 33, of Granite Shoals was arrested Dec. 11 and charged in multiple burglary cases.

“Investigators identified and recovered numerous items of property from a local pawn shop that were reported as stolen from several residences,” said Assistant Chief Rocky Wardlow in a statement. “Hamilton was employed as a housekeeper by each of the (alleged) theft victims.”

The theft of property charge ($1,500 to $20,000) is a state jail felony, punishable by up to two years in a state jail facility and a $10,000 fine with a conviction.

“Investigators are requesting that anyone in Horseshoe Bay who employed Hamilton to contact the police department so that additional information might be obtained and other potential victims can be identified,” the statement reads.

Call the Horseshoe Bay Police Department at (830) 598-2633.

editor@thepicayune.com

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CONNIE SWINNEY  • PICAYUNE STAFF GRANITE SHOALS — A citizens survey citing problems caused by the deer population in the city limits has prompted  officials to look for solutions to quell the herd. The city of Granite Shoals distributed 2,077 10-question surveys and received 391 responses in February to be presented to the city council March […]

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FROM STAFF REPORTS GRANITE SHOALS — Authorities are investigating a shooting incident involving a man they found alone March 7 at a residence in the 300 block of East Greenbriar. “The incident appears to be isolated, and there is no threat to public safety,” according to a news release from the Granite Shoals Police Department. […]

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FROM STAFF REPORTS GRANITE SHOALS — Three Midland residents apparently looking to extend their South by Southwest fun probably wish they had chosen somewhere other than Granite Shoals on March 22 after a Granite Shoals police officer pulled them over on a traffic stop. When the officer approached the car and caught a whiff of […]

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JENNIFER FIERRO • STAFF WRITER GRANITE SHOALS — The Granite Shoals City Council is examining ways to raise money to pay for road improvements without raising taxes. One idea staff explored was selling a couple of city parks. But parks committee chairman Seth Smith told the council during its regular meeting June 9 that’s not […]

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JENNIFER FIERRO • STAFF WRITER GRANITE SHOALS — Granite Shoals City Council members interviewed municipal judge applicants during a special meeting June 17 but took no action. Instead, City Manager Ken Nickel advised members to take the next seven days to study and think carefully about which candidate will best serve the city. The council is […]

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FROM STAFF REPORTS GRANITE SHOALS — Granite Shoals police turned to a popular social media site to help identify a suspect in a car burglary. On July 30, Llano County officials arrested Joe Canchola, 27, on a Granite Shoals arrest warrant for his alleged involvement in a car burglary two days before. The information regarding […]

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JENNIFER FIERRO • STAFF WRITER GRANITE SHOALS — The city of Granite Shoals is hosting a town hall meeting Nov. 14 to get feedback from residents regarding street repairs. “We’re looking for input from our citizens on what we’re going to do about infrastructure in our city,” City Manager Ken Nickel said. The meeting is […]

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FROM STAFF REPORTS GRANITE SHOALS — Grease on a stove top might have ignited a fire that destroyed a manufactured home and killed several pets Dec. 21, according to Granite Shoals fire officials. The incident happened at 6:27 p.m. that day at a home in the 200 block of north Forest Drive. “The kitchen area […]

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JENNIFER FIERRO • STAFF WRITER EDITOR’S NOTE: The article has been updated to correct the estimated overall costs of the road project. The editor incorrectly added the two projected costs together instead of keeping them separate as two different options. GRANITE SHOALS — The city of Granite Shoals took another step toward street improvements when […]

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